Short answer: yes. In real historical fighting (not just sport fencing), many agile fighters did use shields or bucklers, and there were plenty of techniques that combine a one‑handed sword with a shield or with a left hand that either blocks, parries, or supports balance.
Details and context
- Buckler and sword in the medieval and Renaissance periods
- The typical pairing was a one‑handed sword (or arming sword) with a small shield called a buckler. The buckler is light and very maneuverable, designed for fast parries, deflections, and creating openings rather than for absorbing blows.
- Treatises and schools from the 14th–16th centuries (German/Austrian, Italian, and French authors) show extensive use of sword and buckler in real combat, not just in demonstrations. The buckler was used to deflect an opponent’s blade, bind or trap the adversary’s hand, and set up counters, all while the sword hand remained free for offense.
- This combination was common in duels and in battlefield skirmishing, where mobility and quick parries were valuable.
- Rapier era and the off hand (main gauche)
- In civilian dueling with rapiers, the left hand often carried a parrying dagger (main gauche) or, less often, a small shield. The dagger served a similar defensive purpose (parry and counterparry) while the main blade remained free for ripostes.
- The use of a shield in this period was less universal than the dagger, but it was well documented in some lines of swordsmanship. The dagger and shield served the same general purpose as the buckler: defense without sacrificing the ability to strike.
- Shields in real combat vs. sport fencing
- In modern sport fencing (foil, epee, sabre), there is no shield because the rules and targets favor speed and precision with the weapon only.
- In historical European martial arts (HEMA), practitioners actively train sword‑and‑buckler and dagger‑and‑rapier systems to reflect the historical methods. You’ll see techniques where the off hand is used to parry with the buckler or dagger while the sword hand performs the attack, and vice versa.
- Does using balance with the off hand prevent blocking?
- The “second hand for balance” vs “blocking with the second hand” is a matter of technique and context.
- In many systems, the off hand is used for defense (buckler, parrying dagger) and also helps with balance and positioning. The shield or dagger can be moved and used to block while the sword hand remains ready to riposte.
- In other situations, the off hand is kept free to help with footwork, distance control, or feints, and blocking is done primarily with the weapon hand or with a quick parry from the buckler. The choice depends on the weapon you’re using, the opponent’s weapon, and the specific system you’re practicing.
- In short, having the off hand free for balance does not inherently prevent blocking; many historical and modern practitioners train to use the off hand in defense and in coordinated defense/offense while maintaining mobility.
Practical takeaways if you’re curious or want to study more
- If you’re interested in authentic agile fighting with shields, look into sword‑and‑buckler or rapier‑and‑main gauche training in HEMA. There are many treatises and modern schools that teach the mechanics, including how to coordinate shield/parry with riposte and how to maintain balance and tempo.
- For reading, you might explore:
- Medieval and Renaissance sword manuals that cover sword and buckler (various German, Italian, and French authors).
- Treatises on rapier combat with a main gauche (parrying dagger) as a practical parallel to shield work.
- Practical tip: practice with a light shield or a replica buckler to develop the timing of parries while you work on footwork and distance. It will teach you how to keep the sword ready for a quick counter while the off hand protects or helps balance.
Bottom line
- Shields and bucklers did see real use among agile fighters in historical Europe.
- The off hand is not automatically “blocked off” by focusing on balance; it is often used to parry or to stabilize your stance, and in many systems you’ll train to both block with the off hand and riposte with the sword.
- If you want to explore this seriously, seek out a HEMA group that trains sword and buckler or rapier and main gauche to experience how the two hands work together in authentic technique.
